After a car accident, it is normal for you not to know what next step to take. One question you should ask yourself is whether you need an auto accident attorney to help you. My answer is yes, you need an attorney to help you. It's not easy to walk this path alone. Make sure you choose the right car attorney for your case.
Here are some questions you will need to ask the attorney you want to choose just to make sure you are on the right track.
It is of paramount importance for you to know your attorney's legal background and how many similar cases they have handled. Do your own research by checking out their website, and social media accounts and you can still ask around about them. If you were referred to them then counter-check with the person who referred you.
If you get good reviews about them then you can go ahead but if you find any negative reviews, go ahead and look for another lawyer.
In this case, you are supposed to give your attorney all the details regarding your claim. They should therefore be in a position to tell you what they think about your case from a legal perspective.
Ask them about the strengths, weaknesses, and the potential outcome of your claim. This is where their experience in similar cases becomes valuable.
After a proper analysis of your claim, your lawyer should be in a position to tell you the kind of compensation you are likely to get.
Here is a breakdown of compensation you can get if you are in Los Angeles.
Examples such as playing football handball or any other sport you used to engage in, and psychological trauma. These damages however vary from case to case.
Communication is among the things you should consider when choosing your attorney. Bear in mind that there is no right or wrong way to communicate.
Ask your attorney about their communication styles. Discuss with them and come to a conclusion on what suits both of you. They should let you know how often they will get in touch, how involved they wants you to be, will they be communicating personally or will their secretary be the one calling you to know how your case is going. Will you have to call them at some point or will you be waiting for them to communicate?
You have to know this because it is important for you to know how your case is going.
It is normal to hesitate to ask about legal fees. But you shouldn't. It's important for you to know about your attorney's fees. This will help you know whether you can afford them or not. If you are in Los Angeles, ask about the Contingency Fees in this state as many injury lawyers will work on this.
Ask about upfront fees and any other expenses you may be responsible for.
It is important to know who will handle your case. Large auto accident lawyer firms are known to handle many cases at the same time. This means that your claim may be given to an associate attorney or it may be worked on by different lawyers.
Therefore, when consulting your attorney, let them make it clear to you who will be handling your claim.
It is of utter importance for you to know the documents which you will need as evidence for your case. You must have documented proof for all your evidence. These will help your attorney to present your case with confidence, increasing your chances of winning the claim.
Here are the most important documents you will need:
This document will provide an official account of the incident. It includes the details of the scene, witness statements, and involved parties.
To get this document, you will have to contact the police department that responded to the accident where you will request a copy of their report.
You will have to obtain the names, addresses of your potential witnesses, and their phone numbers.
Ask the witnesses to provide written statements to strengthen your case. Inform them of the hearing date early enough so that they can prepare and avail themselves.
Always seek medication attention immediately after the accident whether you have minor or major injuries.
Keep records of all your medical treatment which include the following
Keep all medical bill records. That is receipts related to your treatment. They will help you support your claim and get compensation.
Get a letter from your employer with details of how yoú missed work due to injuries, documents of your lost wages plus evidence of your daily or monthly income before your car accident. Let these be as accurate as possible.
These documents will help your lawyer to handle your claim successfully.
Make sure to obtain all repair estimates from your mechanic. This will help in quantifying the cost of repairs for your vehicle.
Try to get an accurate estimate of all personal property that was in the vehicle during the accident. Provide evidence that said items were actually in the car. Without proper evidence, it can be hard for you to get compensation for this.
The timeline for resolving these kinds of claims varies from one case to another. It is therefore important for your attorney to give you a rough estimate of how long your claim might take. Knowing how long your case might take helps to put your mind at ease. Be patient to get the best results.
Not all claims are usually straightforward. Some may have obstacles thus making them take longer to resolve. For instance, if you don't provide sufficient evidence for your claim. This makes your case difficult to handle.
Don't panic though. Your attorney should be in a position to advise you on this. He should tell you how he plans to go about the obstacles in your case. That's why it is important to choose an attorney with vast experience in auto accident cases.
A: If you are at fault you should take the following steps:
Get in touch with your attorney and let them know. Visit their offices with your documents. They will know how to deal with your claim.
A: Always get help immediately after the car accident. Your lawyer should be able to guide you further on the steps to take to make a claim on your accident. Remember to choose an experienced attorney who has handled such cases and won.
A: In this case, your attorney should be able to analyze your claim in-depth before they can speculate on the worth of your claim.
Remember that this is not the kind of information you get from your attorney on the first day of a meeting. They will have to check out important issues concerning your claim and probably do some professional consultations before coming up with clear information. Give him time.
A: Yes, you should. Even for minor injuries, it is advisable to get medical treatment. Receipts and medical records will enable you to strengthen your accident claim.
A car accident is a life-threatening incident that leaves you both frightened and confused. After receiving medical treatment you will be wondering what to do next.
Fear not, contact us at LA Injury to get the best attorney who will walk you through this difficult time. We have an attorney with vast experience who will handle your claim to make sure you receive your compensation. Call us now for more information.
References
Record and Identification division (2025). Los Angeles Department (LAPD) Traffic Collision Report
California State (2025).
Report of Traffic Accident Occuring in California